New Orleans Saints bounty scandal: Damaging new recordings surface

Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is shown in this undated file photo.

April 6, 2012 12:00:00 AM PDT

NEW ORLEANS --

Damaging new tape recordings have been released in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.

In the newly-released tapes, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can be heard encouraging players to "hurt" 49-ers players before a playoff game against San Francisco last January. This game, which the Saints lost, was the final game Williams coached.

"We've got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore's head. We want him running sideways. We want his head sideways," Williams can be heard saying. "Respect comes from fear. This is how you get respect in this league."

Filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, who had access to Saints meetings for a documentary on football, posted the audio on his website.

The NFL has said Williams' bounty system offered off-the-books cash payments of $1,000 or more for hits that either knocked opponents out of games or left them needing help off the field. The Saints have been punished heavily for allowing such a program to continue for three seasons, from 2009 when they Super Bowl through 2011.

Williams left New Orleans after last season, which was his third with the Saints. He was hired as defensive coordinator by the St. Louis Rams.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season, while handing down additional suspensions of eight games to general manager Mickey Loomis and six games to assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who also coaches linebackers. The Saints, meanwhile, were fined $500,000 and docked second-round draft picks this year and next.